The interagency decision, to be announced in the near future, authorized the sale of up to 66 F-16V jet fighters at an estimated cost of $13 billion, according to administration officials familiar with internal discussions.
The jets are among several new weapons systems, including missiles, that are part of the administration's latest arms sale to Taiwan, a key U.S. partner in the Asia Pacific region.
The jet sale reverses the Obama administration rejection of Taiwan's request for the same number of F-15C/D jets over fears of upsetting China. The George W. Bush administration also blocked F-16 sales in 2007, amid worries about triggering a backlash from Beijing.
A Pentagon spokesman referred questions about the arms sale to the State Department. A State Department spokesman said the department does not comment on arms sales until Congress is first notified.
The jet sale is part of the Trump administration's more hardline policy toward China. Last year, President Trump signed legislation authorizing greater amounts of high-level U.S. visits to Taiwan.
The arms sales are being carried out under the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act that authorizes the United States to provide defensive weapons to Taiwan to counter any mainland attack.
The last sale of 150 F-16A/B models took place from 1992 to 1999 under the administration of President George H.W. Bush.
As with the 1992 transfers, the sale is expected to upset Beijing, which regards Taiwan as a breakaway province and not an independent state.
